MSI Ham Type Herstal-class inshore minesweeper, BNC M485 Andenne

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The MSI Ham Type Herstal-class inshore minesweepers represented a vital Cold War asset for Belgium’s Force Navale. Built at the Mercantile Marine Yard in Kruibeke between 1957 and 1959, these wooden-hulled vessels were designed for mine countermeasures in shallow waters, harbors, and estuaries. The class comprised 16 units, including M485 Andenne, one of the later ships completed. Their construction emphasized low magnetic signatures to counter the growing threat of magnetic and acoustic mines. Armed with either a twin 12.7 mm Browning heavy machine gun or a twin 20 mm Oerlikon, they were lightly armed but specialized for their defensive role.

TL;DR: M485 Andenne was a Belgian Cold War inshore minesweeper of the MSI class, lightly armed but highly specialized in counter-mine warfare in estuaries and shallow waters.

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M485 Andenne – late-service photograph.

History

History

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M485 Andenne was laid down on 3 May 1958 at the Mercantile Marine Yard in Kruibeke, Belgium, and commissioned into the Belgian Navy on 25 April 1959. Before entering Belgian service, she briefly served as M97 with the U.S. Navy between 1958 and April 1959, as part of the Mutual Defense Assistance Program which provided mine warfare vessels to allied navies during the Cold War.

Upon commissioning into the Force Navale belge as M485 Andenne, she was assigned to patrol Belgium’s coastline and estuaries, particularly the Scheldt and North Sea approaches. Her duties included mine clearance, escorting convoys in mined waters, and maintaining Belgium’s readiness against Warsaw Pact naval threats.

The ship was manned by a compact crew of just under 20 personnel, commanded at various times by officers such as Lieutenant de vaisseau Josef Vindevogel (1965), EDV Van Slambrouck (1967), as well as Commanders Antoine Paul, Henri Cuyvers, Hughes Robins, and André Vanhooren. These rotations reflected the MSI class’s role as training and operational vessels for young naval officers.

A notable event occurred in April 1966, when Andenne left Ostend for Brest, where she underwent a demagnetization procedure at the Île Longue station. Such operations were vital for maintaining her low magnetic signature, ensuring survivability against influence mines. She returned to her base on 22 April 1966.

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    In 1967, the vessel was documented in Antwerp, reflecting her continued operational role within Belgium’s coastal defense forces.

Andenne remained in active service until 1992, when she was decommissioned along with the rest of her class as Belgium phased out wooden-hulled minesweepers in favor of modern minehunters. From 1992 to 1995, she was sold to the Koninklijke Marine Kadettenkorps (KMKK), the Belgian Sea Cadet Corps, before being resold in 1995.

While not preserved like her sister M477 Oudenaarde, M485 Andenne nonetheless represented an important chapter in Belgium’s Cold War naval heritage, serving for over three decades in both defensive and training roles.

Specifications

Displacement: 173 t (freshwater), 177.5 t (saltwater)
Length/Beam/Draught: 34.4 m / 6.65 m / 2.1 m
Propulsion: 2 × Nuove Reggiane diesels, 2 shafts, 1260 hp
Speed: 15 knots
Range: 2,300 nm @ 10 knots
Crew: 18 (2 officers, 7 petty officers, 9 sailors)

Armament Variants:

Version Weapons
Early 1 × twin 12.7 mm Browning HMG
Alternate 1 × twin 20 mm Oerlikon AA gun

Mine Warfare Gear: Acoustic, magnetic, and mechanical sweeps
Construction: Wooden hull with non-magnetic fittings
Radar: Decca 707 (1958–1970)
Callsign: ORHX
Patron City: Andenne

Place in War Thunder

Regarding nations

BeNeLux

M485 Andenne would be a perfect addition to a BeNeLux naval tree, filling out early Cold War coastal ranks with a defensive, utility-focused minesweeper. Its weak armament but high historical value makes it best suited for collectors and naval history enthusiasts.

France (subtree)

Given the precedent of BeNeLux integration into France, Andenne could also appear as a French subtree vessel, likely as a lower-rank coastal premium or event ship.

Pictures

Pictures

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M485 Andenne – photographed during service

Sources

Sources

Dragueurs de mines belges de type MSI. (2023). Wikipedia. Retrieved September 27, 2023, from https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragueurs_de_mines_belges_de_type_MSI

Marine Belge. (n.d.). MSI 485. Retrieved August 27, 2025, from https://www.marinebelge.be/msi485.html

Belgian Navy Forum. (n.d.). MSI. MSI : Mine Sweeper Inshore

Anrys, H., De Decker de Brandeken, J.-M., & Eygenraam, P. (1992). De zeemacht: van de admiraliteit van Vlaanderen tot de Belgische zeemacht. Tielt.

Van Beylen, J., et al. (1972). Maritieme Encyclopedie (Vol. 5). Bussum.

NavSource Naval History. (2023). Mine Warfare Vessel Photo Archive. Retrieved September 27, 2023, from http://www.navsource.org/archives/11/0583.htm

Belgian MSC/MSI Archive. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fbelgian-msc-msi.doomby.com%2F